LeBron James and Stephen A. Smith Feud Escalates with Personal Jabs and Public Responses

LeBron James defends his son Bronny against nepotism claims while Stephen A. Smith doubles down on criticism, turning their dispute into a broader commentary on media ethics and personal boundaries.

LeBron James criticized Stephen A. Smith during a March 26 appearance on 'The Pat McAfee Show,' accusing him of making the feud overly personal and comparing Smith's media appearances to a 'Taylor Swift tour run.'
Stephen A. Smith responded by accusing LeBron of lying about their confrontation and claiming he would have 'swung' at LeBron if the altercation had turned physical.
Smith further escalated the feud by referencing personal matters, including LeBron's absence from Kobe Bryant's memorial and Dwyane Wade's Hall of Fame induction, though he stated he refrained from discussing these publicly out of respect.
Bronny James has performed exceptionally well recently, including a career-high 39-point game in the G League, countering claims of nepotism with on-court success.
Shannon Sharpe, a friend of LeBron, urged Smith to de-escalate the feud and suggested resolving the issue privately, but tensions between the two figures remain high.